engleski

Work Ability Index in the group of Croatian physicians and bank employees (Pilot study).

Stress at work can be defined as harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. It can strongly affect workers� ; health, proneness to injuries, and their work ability in general. Work ability is a modern concept of human abilities to work, emphasising the needs to adjust the work better with the changing resources of the worker. It is measured by Work Ability Index (WAI), which evaluates physical status and psychological resources of the worker, and is applicable both in occupational health practice and research. In this preliminary study, WAI was evaluated by a questionnaire in two groups of Croatian male and female workers of different age: 69 medical doctors - occupational health specialists (average age 52 yrs), and 30 bank employees (average age 39 yrs). It is known that work ability decreases with age, but is longer preserved in occupations with more creativity and intellectual challenges. Therefore, it was hypothesised that although both jobs have some common characteristics, i.e. mental strain predominates over physical strain and both belong to professions with emotional labour (refers to the intentional regulation of one's own emotions in order to influence others, which can lead to emotional exhaustion), work ability will be longer preserved in physicians, since they have higher education level as well as more autonomy and creativity at work in comparison with this group of bank employees. Results showed that work ability significantly decreased with age in both professions. Although statistical difference has not been found, data implied that work ability was lower in bank employees than in physicians, and was lower in women than in men of the same age in this group of physicians - occupational medicine specialists. Measures to reduce occupational stress and improve work ability were proposed, including stress management and organisational changes.

Occupational health; stress; physicians; bank employees

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